Trap work for pianos.



' Patented Feb. l2, IQOI.

- G. H. FOX.

TRAP WORK FOR HANDS. (A hhutiou filed 0ct.5, 1900.

(No Model.)

Mw/MZQM. 1Z4 5 mm ruins coy. Puoraundo WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATESGEORGE H. FOX, OF NORWALK, OHIO.

TRAP WORK FOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 668,143, datedFebruary 12, 1901. Application filed October 5,1900. Serial No. 82,154.(No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. FOX, a resident of Norwalk, in the countyof Huron and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Trap Work for Pianos; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in the trap work of a piano, theobject of the invention being to provide an improved trapwork for pianoswhich will be entirely noiseless in operation and which will beextremely simple in construction and cheap to manufacture.

With this object in view the invention consists in certain novelfeatures of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, aswill be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view illustrating myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the pedal-lever, and Fig. 3 isa detail view showing the pedal and means attaching the same to thelever.

1 represents the bottom of a piano, on which is secured a block 2,having its upper edge made sloping or inclined from one end to theother, and a flat spring 3 is secured at one end on the upper edge ofblock 2 and projects beyond the end thereof. The free end of said spring3 is secured to the lower edge of a pedal-lever i, which latter is madewidest at its center and has its lower edge gradually tapering from itscenter to its ends, the center or widest part of said lever beingdisposed in alinement with the highest end of block 2, so as to havepivotal movement thereon, and the spring 3 is secured to the lower edgeof lever 4, which alines with the upper edge of block 2 and is adaptedto hold the lever in its normal horizontal position. A vertical rod 6 issecured to one end of lever 4 and connects the same with thepiano-action.- (Not shown.) The otherend of lever 4 is adjustablyconnected by screw-threaded spring-rod 7 with the pedal 8, and said rod7 is provided above the lever with a nut 9 to lock the rod in anyposition to which it may be adjusted.

The pedal 8 is pivotally connected at its I inner end to a block 10,which latter is secured to the piano-frame.

It will be seen that when my improvements are employed there is nofrictional contact ofany of the parts. Hence the squeaking and gratingnoise incident to all trap works heretofore known is entirely avoidedand a much simpler and more effectually operating mechanism is devised.

When the pedal 8 is depressed by the operator, it will draw down one endof lever 4 and elevate the other end to raise rod 6 and operate the piano-action, and when the pedal is released spring 3 will compel lever 4 toassume its former horizontal position, thus drawing pedal 8 back to itsnormal position.

Various slight changes might be resorted to in the general form andarrangement of the several parts set forth without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention, and hence I would have it understoodthat I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details set forth, butconsider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterationsas fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I-Iaving fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a trap work for a piano, the combination with a block having abeveled upper face, of a pedal-lever having under faces beveled in bothdirections from its center and a straight spring secured to one beveledface and projecting beyond the apex formed by the union of said beveledfaces, said projecting end of the straight spring secured to the beveledupper face of the block.

2. In a trap work for a piano, the combination of a block having aninclined upper edge, a pedal-lever having a beveled under face, and afiat spring secured at one end to the upper edge of the block and at itsother end to the said beveled under face of the lever.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE I-I. FOX. Witnesses:

L. L. DOUD, S. MORSE.

